Article of repose for supporting the



A. LORENZ Nov. 1, 1960 ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF APERSON Original Filed Oct. 14. 1953 FIG.

FIG. 2.

INVENTOR ANTOA/ LORENZ JATTORN 5 ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THEBODY OF A ?ERSON Anton Lorenz, Ocean Ridge, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Original application Oct. 14, 1953, Ser. No. 385,985,

now Patent No. 2,827,108, dated Mar. 18, 1958. Divided and thisapplication Nov. 15, 1957, Ser. No. 696,826

Claims. (Ci. 155-106) The present invention relates to reclining chairs,and in particular to an improved reclining chair of the type including aseat, a back-rest and a leg-rest coordinated for movement with respectto each other wherein a compound inclining movement is imparted to theseat to increase the angle between the seat and back-rest as a functionof the reclining movement and the leg-rest is elevated as a function ofsaid reclining movement. This is a division of my copending application,Serial No. 385,985 filed on October 14, 1953 and entitled Article ofRepose for Supporting the Body of a Person, now Patent No. 2,827,108,issued March 18, 1958.

It is generally known to construct chairs of the reclining type whichinclude a seat and back-rest rockably mounted on a support and aleg-rest disposed beneath the forward end of the seat and coordinated tothe movement of the back-rest such that the leg-rest is elevated as afunction of the reclining movement of the back-rest. Accordingly, whenthe occupant of the seat leans back and displaces the back-rest from itsnormal sitting position to the various reclined positions, the leg-restis moved upwardly and outwardly to an elevated position selected tocomfortably accommodate the person in the reclined or partially reclinedposition.

Broadly it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedlinkage for controlling and coordinating the seat, back-rest andleg-rest of a reclining chair of the aforesaid general construction.Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention toprovide an improved coordinating and controlling linkage which iseffective to impart a compound inclining move ment to the seat as afunction of the reclining movement of the back-rest and to elevate theleg-rest as a function of said reclining movement.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features ofthe present invention, my improved reclining chair comprises a supportand a back-rest having a depending extension which is disposed inupright sitting position and is pivotally mounted at the lower end ofits depending extension for reclining movement. The chair furtherincludes a seat which is mounted to the back-rest at a point spacedabove the pivot of the backrest on the support such that the seattranslates rearward upon reclining movement of the back-rest about itspivot on the support. A guiding link is disposed below the seat in aforwardly inclined position and extends forwardly and upwardly from itslower end to its upper end when the back-rest is in the upright sittingposition, the guiding link being pivoted adjacent its upper end to theseat and adjacent its lower end to the support. Thus,

the reclining movement of the back-rest is simultaneously effective tocause the seat to move rearwardly and to cause the pivot of the guidinglink on the seat to move upwardly such that a compound incliningmovement is imparted to the seat to increase the angle between the seatand back-rest as a function of the reclining movement. A leg-rest isdisposed in a stored position beneath the forward end of the seat and ismounted on the chair 2,958,372 Patented Nov. 1, 1960 for movement from astored position to various elevated positions. Linkage means areoperatively connected to the leg-rest and to the support for elevatingthe seat as a function of the reclining movement of the back-rest.Accordingly, in response to reclining movement of the chair, a compoundinclining movement is imparted to the seat and the leg-rest is elevatedas a function of said reclining movement.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features andadvantages of the present invention, will be more fully understood byreference to the following detailed description of an illustrativeembodiment demonstrating features of the present invention, when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of animproved reclining chair illustrating features of the present inventionshown in the upright sitting position; and,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the reclining chair illustrated inFig. 1 shown in a reclined position.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, there is shown an improvedreclining chair demonstrating features of the invention which include asupport 620 which is made up of side frames or members 684, 636 whichare interconnected by transverse bracing bars or members 388.

A back-rest 626 is pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end on thesupport 620 at a back-rest pivot 628.

The chair further includes a seat 630 having a seat pivot 632 adjacentits rearward end which pivotally mounts the seat 630 on the back-rest626 at a point spaced above the pivot 628 of the back-rest 626 on thesupport 620. The rigid depending extension of the back-rest 626intermediate the pivots 628, 632 serves as a mounting arm for theback-rest on the support. The disposition of the seat pivot 632 abovethe back-rest pivot 628 is such that the seat pivot will translaterearwardly upon a reclining movement of the back-rest 626. In theillustrative position of the seat pivot 632, that is slightly forwardlyof a position vertically above the pivot 628, the seat pivot 632 willtranslate first rearwardly and then through a downward arc in responseto reclining movement.

Positioned below the seat 639 is a guiding link 638 which is disposed ina forwardly inclined position. The guiding link 638 extends forwardlyand upwardly from its lower end to its upper end when the baclcrest 626is in the upright sitting position and is adapted to turn in acounterclockwise direction. A pivot 642 provides a pivotal connection atthe lower end of the guiding link 638 to the support 620. The upper endof the guiding link 638 is pivoted to the seat at the pivot 640. Thereclining movement of the back-rest 626, in addition to causing the seatpivot 632 to move rearwardly, causes the pivot 640 of the guiding link638 to move upwardly in a rearwardly directed are such that a compoundinclining movement is imparted to the seat 630 which increases the anglebetween the seat and the back-rest as a function of the recliningmovement of the chair.

Positioned beneath the forward end of the seat 630 is a leg-rest 698which is disposed in a stored position and is movable into variouselevated positions forwardly of the seat 630. The leg-rest 698 isswingably mounted at a leg-rest pivot 600 on the forward end of the seat630 by means of a depending hanger 612. A controlling or connecting link694 is operatively connected to the movably mounted leg-rest 698 toelevate the leg-rest as a function of the reclining movement of theback-rest. The controlling link 694 has a pivotal connection 633 at itsupper end to the support 620 at a location adjacent to and spacedrearwardly of and below the pivot 60% and has a pivotal connection 696at its lower end to the legrest 698. The leg-rest 698 serves as abiasing means for 3 returning the movable components of the recliningchair from the reclined position to which the chair is brought by theseat occupant to the upright sitting position.

The reclining movement of the chair is limited by a stop 625 which is inposition to abut the guiding link 638' when the guiding link 638approaches the vertical or upright position illustrated by the brokenlines. The front cross brace 688'serves as a stop and is in position toabut the seat 630 to properly orient the chair components in the sittingposition.

In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the presentinvention a typical operating sequence of. the chair will be described:

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair and leans back againstthe back-rest 626, the rearward portion of the seat' will move through arearward arc and then through a downward arc, the radius thereofdepending upon the spacing of the seat pivot 632 from the back restpivot 628. Simultaneously the guiding link 638 moves through an upwardlyand rearwardly directed are about the pivot 642 which elevates theforward portion of the seat 630 such that the seat 630 experiences acompound inclining movement. The movement of the seat 630 rearwardlycauses the controlling link 694 to turn in the counterclockwisedirection about its pivot 633 which in turn elevates the leg-rest 698 asa function of the reclining movement of the back-rest.

A latitude of modifications, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of theinvention will be used without a corresponding use of other features.Accordingly, it is appropriate that the invention be construed broadlyandin the manner consistent with the spirit and? scope of the disclosureherein.

What I claim is:

1'. An improved reclining chair comprising a support, a back-rest havinga depending extension and disposed in a substantially upright sittingposition, means adjacent the lower end of said extension pivotallymounting said backrest on said support for reclining movement, a seat,means adjacent the rearward end of said seat pivotally mounting saidseat to said back-rest at a point spaced from the pivot of saidback-rest on said support, the pivot for said. seat being disposed abovethe pivot for said back-rest and in position to translate rearwardly anddownwardly upon reclining movement of said back-rest about its pivot onsaid support, a guiding link disposed below said seat in a forwardlyinclined position and extending forwardly and upwardly from its lowerend to its upper end when said back-rest is in said upright sittingposition, means pivotally connecting said upper end of the guiding linkto said seat, means pivotally connecting said lower end of said guidinglink to said support, the reclining movement of said back-rest beingsimultaneously efiective to cause said pivot for said seat to moverearwardly and downwardly and to cause the pivot of said guiding link onsaid seat to move upwardly such that a compound inclining movement isimparted to said seat to increase the angle between said seat andback-rest as a function of said reclining movement, a leg-rest disposedin a stored position beneath the forward end of saidseat, means movablymounting said leg-rest on said seat for. movement from said storedposition to various. elevatedpositions, and link means operativelyconnected to said leg-rest and to said support for elevating saidleg-rest as a function of said reclining movement.

2. An improved reclining chair comprising a support, a back-rest havinga depending extension and disposed in a substantially upright sittingposition, means adjacent the lower end of said extension pivotallymounting said backrest on said support for reclining movement; aseat,.means adjacent the rearward end of said seat pivotally mountingsaid seat to said back-rest at a point spaced from the pivot of saidback-rest on said support, the pivot for said seat being disposed abovethe pivot for saidback-rest and in position to translate rearwardly anddownwardly upon reclining movement of said back-rest about its pivot onsaid support, a guiding link disposed below said seat in a forwardlyinclined position and extending forwardly and upwardly from its lowerend to its upper end when said back-rest is in said upright sittingposition, means pivotally connecting said upper end of the guiding linkto said seat, means pivotally connecting said lower end of said guidinglink to said support, the reclining movement of said back-rest beingsimultaneously effective to cause said pivot for said seat to moverearwardly and downwardly and to cause the pivot of said guiding link onsaid seat to" move upwardly such that a compound inclining movement'isimparted to said seat to increase the angle between said seat andback-rest as a function of said reclining movement, a leg-restdisposedin a stored position beneath the forward end of said seat, a hangerpivotally mounting said leg-rest on said chair for movement from saidstored position to various elevated positions, and a controlling linkpivotally connected to said leg-rest an'dto' said support for elevatingsaid leg-rest as a function of said reclining movement.

3. An improved'reclining chair comprising a support, a back-resthaving adepending extension and disposed in' a substantially upright sittingposition, means adjacent the lower endof said extension pivotallymounting said back rest on said'support for reclining movement, a seat,means adjacent the rearward end of'said seat pivotally mounting said'seat to said back-rest at'a point spaced from the pivot of saidback-rest on said support, the pivot for said seat, being disposed abovethe pivot for said back-rest and in position to translate rearwardly anddownwardlyupon reclining movement of said back-rest about its pivot onsaid'support, guiding means disposed below said seat and operativelyengaged between said seat and said support for raising the forwardportion of said seat in response to said reclining movement, saidreclining movement of said back-rest being simultaneously effective tocause said pivot for said seat to move rearwardly such that a compoundinclining movement is imparted to said seat to increase the anglebetween said seat and back-rest as a function of said recliningmovement, a leg-rest disposed in a stored position beneath the forwardend of said seat, means movably mounting said leg-rest on said chair formovement from said stored position to various elevated positions, andlink means connected to said leg-rest and to said support for elevatingsaid leg-rest as a function of'said reclining movement.

4. An improved reclining chair comprising a support, a back-rest havinga depending extension and disposed in a substantially upright sittingposition, means adjacent the lower end of said extension pivotallymounting said back-rest on said support for reclining movement, a seat,means adjacent the rearward end of said seat pivotally mounting saidseat to said back-rest at a point spaced from the pivot of saidback-rest on said support, the pivot for said seat being disposed abovethe pivot for said backrest and in position to translate rearwardly anddownwardly upon reclining movement of said back-rest about its pivot onsaid support, guiding means disposed below said seat and operativelyengaged between said seat and said support for raising the forwardportion of said seat in response to said reclining movement, saidreclining movement of said back-rest being simultaneously effective tocause said pivot for said seat to move rearwardly such that a compoundinclining movement is imparted to said seat to increase the anglebetween said seat and back-rest as a function of said recliningmovement, a leg-rest disposedzin astored position beneath the forwardend of said seat, means operatively connected to said leg-rest adjacenttheiupper'end thereof and movably mounting said leg-rest on said seatfor movement from said stored position to various elevated positions,alink disposed in a forwardly and downwardly inclined position, meanspivotally mounting said link adjacent I itsupper end on said support,and means pivotally connecting the lower end of said link to the lowerend of said leg-rest, the inclining movement of said seat beingeffective to pull said upper end of said leg-rest upwardly andrearwardly and said link simultaneously being effective to push saidlower end of said leg-rest upwardly and forwardly to elevate saidleg-rest as a function of said reclining movement.

5. An improved reclining chair comprising a support, a hack-rest havinga depending extension and disposed in a substantially upright sittingposition, means adjacent the lower end of said extension pivotallymounting said backrest on said support for reclining movement, a seat,means adjacent the rearward end of said seat pivotally mounting saidseat to said back-rest at a point spaced from the pivot of saidback-rest on said support, the pivot for said seat being disposed abovethe pivot for said back-rest and in position to translate rearwardly anddownwardly upon reclining movement of said back-rest about its pivot onsaid support, a guiding link disposed below said seat in a forwardlyinclined position and extending forwardly and upwardly from its lowerend to its upper end when said back-rest is in said upright sittingposition, means pivotally connecting said upper end of the guiding linkto said seat, means pivotally connecting said lower end of said guidinglink to said support, the reclining movement of said back-rest beingsimultaneouslyeffective to cause said seat to move rearwardly anddownwardly and to cause the pivot of said guiding link on said seat tomove upward- 1y such that a compound inclining movement is imparted tosaid seat to increase the angle between said seat and back-rest as afunction of said reclining movement, a legrest disposed in a storedposition beneath the forward end of said seat, means operativelyconnected to said leg-rest adjacent the upper end thereof and movablymounting said leg-rest on said seat for movement from said storedposition to various elevated positions, a link disposed in a forwardlyand downwardly inclined position, means pivotally mounting said linkadjacent its upper end on said support, and means pivotally connectingthe lower end of said link to the lower end of said leg-rest, theinclining movement of said seat being effective to pull said upper endof said leg-rest upwardly and rearwardly and said link simultaneouslybeing effective to push said lower end of said leg-rest upwardly andforwardly to elevate said leg-rest as a function of said recliningmovement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

